Can the Vancouver Canucks return to keep their slim playoff hopes alive?
After an embarrassing 5-2 defeat against the Calgary Flames on Saturday night, the team will watch Sunday night to close out their home game well against Rasmus Dahlin and the Buffalo Sabers.
It wasn’t all bad for the Canucks in the beginning, who were able to secure five of eight possible points in their first four games at home to keep the postseason momentum alive.
However, the team has since been rather disappointing, conceding six goals against them, while only two of their own have scored in the last two outings. The team also continues to struggle with full 60-minute performances, which was very evident in the second period on Thursday night against Detroit, as well as the first period on Saturday night against the Flames.
Simply put, the Canucks have not played nearly as well as they should get their current position in the standings, and will have to come out on Sunday against the Sabers.
With just a 24-hour turnaround between players, the team did not take to the ice for morning practice, keeping fans and media in the dark about possible line combinations for head coach Bruce Boudreau.
The biggest question mark will of course be between the pipes.
Boudreau was pretty close about the matter during Saturday’s pre-game media availability, leaving no clue as to who he planned to kick off in the second half of Vancouver’s back-to-back this weekend.
Bruce Boudreau insisted the decision was not made and would not be made until after the game, but not hard to read between the lines that Thatcher Demko is ready to return this weekend against Calgary and Buffalo. #Canucks
– Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) March 19, 2022
Bruce Boudreau is playing his cards near the West today. Will not reveal his starting lineup or whether he will make any lineup changes. #Canucks @ Sportsnet650
– Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) March 20, 2022
However, due to Vancouver’s sheer desperation for points, it would not be much of a surprise if Boudreau beckons Thatcher Demko.
The 26-year-old was once again the team’s best player on Saturday night, stopping a handful of high-scoring goal chances from the Flames during their dominant opening season. Demko eventually gave up four goals in the first two periods, and eventually found himself on the bench to start the third period, but that is definitely not what Boudreau had in mind for his team weekend plans.
After the game, the video of an exchange between Boudreau and the back-up Netminder Jaroslav Halak appeared before he entered the tunnel. Even though the video had no audio, it appeared that Halak was not happy with the news that he was playing the last 20 minutes of the game, possibly alluding to the notion that he expected to play the entire game against Buffalo instead.
Here the video HNIC is shown after the game of Halak by Boudreau tells that he would go for the third. Unfortunately, I missed Bieksa’s comment at the end. Once again super hard look by Halak. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/BmoycwzEuI
– Ryan Henderson (@ RJHenderson7) March 20, 2022
The Canucks also made a massive move on their Blueline early Sunday afternoon, exchange the Travis Hamonic to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a third-round pick in the upcoming draft.
The Hamonic, who recently played in the third pairing with Brad Hunt, has a $ 3 million cap hit for the rest of this season, as well as next.
The #Canucks get their own 2022 third-round pick back #Sens in exchange for Travis Hamonic.
No pay withheld.
– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 20, 2022
With a win Sunday night, Vancouver will be just three points back on the Vegas Golden Knights for the second and final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. The Canucks are also chasing the Dallas Stars, who are just two points ahead of the standings but also have three games in hand.
Puck drop is set for 19:00 PST.
What are your thoughts on Sunday night’s clash against Buffalo? Let us know in the comments!
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